Delving into the roots of proactive violence

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, our understanding of the processes that facilitate the expression of violence or the reasons certain individuals are prone to violence has increased substantially. Despite this, there are still many unknowns, and our knowledge is limited. For example, there is a classical distinction between reactive and proactive violence. Reactive violence has been linked to rapid emotional reactions to certain circumstances, whereas proactive or instrumental violence has been related to low emotionality and obtaining certain benefits after applying it. Unfortunately, although a large number of studies have focused on the analysis of reactive violence, there is little evidence about the underlying processes of proactive violence. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new studies that allow us to understand the biological roots (e.g., brain connectomes, structures, neurochemistry, psychophysiological variables) of proneness to proactive violence and their interactions with other psychological and social factors. It is also necessary to more deeply examine the relationship between proactive and reactive violence, and whether it would be possible to establish a clear distinction between them. As our knowledge about the variables that underlie this type of violence increases, we can develop more effective intervention strategies or more appropriate ways to prevent them. Thus, it is essential to carry out a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to proactive violence, focusing not only on biological variables, but also on their interactions with other factors that modulate them.

With this in mind, this Special Issue welcomes the submission of empirical (e.g., brief reports, original articles) and review (e.g., systematic review and/or meta-analysis) manuscripts assessing the underlying bases of proactive violence. Moreover, studies should focus not only on the basis for this type of violence, but also on possible therapies that would reduce the risk of it occurring.

Prof. Dr. Ángel Romero Martínez
Prof. Luis Moya-Albiol
Guest Editors

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